Villiers Terrace

Time Out says

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Users say
(6)

3 out of 5 stars

Time Out says

4 out of 5 stars

NOTE: This bar has been taken over and given a complete makeover. Full review to follow. The Time Out Food and Drink Team

For all its cocktail bar posturing (the choice of real ales here is, well, non-existent), this friendly spot is delightfully relaxed. Head to the paved beer garden if the chandeliers, gilt-framed mirrors and glittering wallpaper seem too prissy – that’s where the blokes and kids were congregating on our recent visit.

A change in the kitchen team has led to a fusion-fuelled menu, but for once that’s a good thing, with well-judged dishes such as a pleasantly tepid sushi rice salad with samphire, hot-smoked salmon and pickled ginger among the seasonally inspired picks. You’ll still find good British fare: ham hock salad with potato, watercress and egg, say, or grilled steak with horseradish butter. A confident burger came with sensational chips (also available with aïoli for snacking).

The international wine list starts at £16 a bottle, and classic cocktails are a mere £6.50 – underlining the overall impression that Villiers Terrace’s target market is designer-heeled yummy mummies. That’s not necessarily a criticism given the location, but worth noting if you don’t fit the demographic.

Delicious food, however £18.50 for a steak, a veggie main, one cheeseboard and two drinks nearing £50 left a bit of a sour taste. 12.5% service is ridiculous and not needed at all. From always working with hospitality I would be utterly embarrassed by charging such an amount, especially seeing as though the food took 20mins and we were the only table in there!! However the food is fabulous, so I'll just have to save my next visit for a special occasion.

Food is good, service OK. My gripes with this place: a rather short and basic menu; the exhorbitant food prices (£12.50 for a cheeseburger?? £7 for a starter?? REALLY??) and the 12.5% service charge. After all, this is a pub, NOT a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Great cocktails tho - in comparison to the food, these are reasonably priced!

Have eaten here for lunch a few times. The food is often well put together, not incredibly inventive but very tasty. However the waiting staff never fail to be incredibly rude. We tend to visit in a group of mothers and babies but as the place is usually dead during the day you would assume that they might appreciate the custom.
Sadly we are often met with arrogant staff who somehow consider it an inconvenience to serve you and are frankly rude sometimes. One friends simple enquiry regarding the type of milk they use (she has a serious allergy) was met with "if you have any special requests you will have to go to Starbucks" another delightful member of staff likened a friend breastfeeding to him whipping his c**k out and puttting it on the bar- nice.